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Amid intensifying privacy concerns regarding Glass,
Google's computerized eyewear, the tech giant is looking to calm
any fears related to at least one of those issues: facial
recognition. Over the weekend, the company posted a statement to Glass's Google+ page
saying it will not permit Glass apps that utilize facial
recognition technology until privacy
issues are adequately addressed.

"We've been listening closely to you, and many have expressed
both interest and concern around the possibilities of facial
recognition in Glass," Google's statement reads. "As Google has
said for several years, we won’t add facial recognition features
to our products without having strong privacy protections in
place. With that in mind, we won’t be approving any facial
recognition Glassware at this time."

The post comes about two weeks after members of the Bipartisan
Congressional Privacy Caucus sent a letter to Google chief
executive Larry Page asking that the company address several
issues related to Glass and privacy. One of the top concerns
addressed in the letter was the possibility that Glass could
eventually be paired with facial recognition technology to allow
wearers to access personal information about people or other
objects they are viewing with the device.

Google has also updated its Google Glass developer policies to state that the
device's camera or microphone should not be used to
"cross-reference and immediately present personal information
identifying anyone other than the user, including use cases
such as facial recognition and voice print." Any apps that do
will not be approved, it says.

According to the Congressional committee's letter, Google has
until June 14 to respond to its questions regarding privacy and
Glass.